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Iowa State University Athletics
Trio Well-Known In Volleyball Circles
10.28.2009 | Volleyball
AMES, Iowa ? Bump. Set. Spike.
That's what we were taught in gym class, but if you've ever been to a collegiate volleyball match you know it goes well beyond being that simple. Sometimes though, when watching the Iowa State trio of Ashley Mass, Kaylee Manns and Victoria Henson, it does look that easy.
The threesome is not only widely considered among the Big 12's best, but also among the nation's elite at their respective positions. It's recognition that fifth-year Iowa State head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch feels the group has earned.
"I think we saw last year from the honors they received that Kaylee is considered one of the best setters in the country and Mass was seen as one of the top libero's in the country,” Johnson-Lynch said. “With Victoria, last year she was an All-American offensively, but because she didn't play all the way around she kind of lost out. But because this year she is playing all the way around and I think that is going to put her in that group with the top hitters in the country. They definitely deserve to be in the discussion among the best in the nation.”
When an opposing player blasts a seemingly untouchable ball, its Mass, a junior libero from Muskego, Wis., who is often the bump in the gym class equation.
Last year's Big 12 Libero of the Year, Mass is a model of consistency. She makes difficult plays look routine and she does it night-in and night-out, rarely having a bad match. Johnson-Lynch feels that is what makes her the player she is.
"Mass' strength is consistency,” Johnson-Lynch said of the Big 12's digs leader. “She's the natural of the group and ever since the eighth or ninth grade she's had a natural feel for the game and how to pass the ball."
Next is the set, which is where Manns steps in as the most decorated setter in school history. The Topeka, Kan., native is fourth in Big 12 history with 5,145 career assists and holds the top-three single-season marks in school history.
An All-American setter herself, Johnson-Lynch praises Manns' athleticism and ability to show up in the big matches as her greatest attributes.
"Kaylee's strengths are her athleticism and competitiveness. She is a gamer in every sense of the word,” Johnson-Lynch said. “I've always felt with her it is a matter of the bigger the match, the better she is going to play.”
Once the first two parts of the equation are taken care of, it's time for the show. The show being Henson.
Henson has made a name for herself by blasting balls seemingly straight down at the Hilton Coliseum floor, inciting oohs and aahs from Cyclone fans along with those cheering on the opposing team.
The Leavenworth, Kan., native's explosiveness and athleticism are, perhaps, only matched in the Big 12 by Texas' Destinee Hooker, with the only difference being that Hooker holds a five-inch height advantage when she approaches the net.
Henson, a middle blocker throughout her high school and club career, is still adapting to the outside hitter position and according to Johnson-Lynch it's her athleticism that makes her one of the league's most-respected outsides.
“Victoria is so athletic and she has a great arm swing that makes her special,” Johnson-Lynch said. “When she is in the zone I don't think anyone can stop her, she's that type of player.”
So how does Johnson-Lynch like having the reliable trio on her side of the net, rather than trying to figure out how to beat them?
"It's a relief that they are on our team rather than the other way around. With a great libero and setter it allows you to compete against the top teams in the country because you are almost always going to have a good pass and set,” Johnson-Lynch said. “With those two setting up Victoria, it allows us to compete against teams that are maybe more athletic than us as a whole.”
Many teams in the country have one or two of the three pieces. Few, however, have all three pieces and that's one reason the Cyclones are off to the best start in school history and well on their way to a fourth-straight NCAA postseason appearance.
For Cyclone fans that have yet to see the three All-Americans play, ask someone who has had the opportunity.
The best way to describe it is “special.”
Ninth-ranked Iowa State will be back in action Wednesday when it plays host to No. 22 Baylor at 6:30 p.m.
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